Portable sectional stairway



Feb. 27, 1940. R. E. REYNOLDS PORTABLE SECTIONAL STAIRWAY Filed Oct. v12. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1940. R. E. REYNOLDS PORTABLE SECTINAL STAIRWAY 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Oct( 12, 1938 3mm I Babe/*H5 @e5/nobis Patented Feb. 27, 1940 l UNITED STATI-:sA

PATENT OFFICE 2,192,151 PORTABLE SECTIONAL STAIRWAY Robert E. Reynolds, New Orleans, La., assi'gnor of one-third to William A. Lurie, and onethird to Charles B. Anderson, both of New Orleans, La.

Application October l2, 1938, ySerial No. 234,610 v 5 Claims.

box side structures in stairway 'construction anda means of anchoring the parts of 'same in assembled relationship.

Another object of my invention is to `provide reinforced slabs to support the riser elel ments o-f my steps and a means of anchoring the reinforced slab to the riser elements in my stairway construction. Another object of my'invention is to provide a railing structure for my stairway and a means of detachabiy locking the railing in its assembled position inthe stairway. h v Other objects of and advantages of my invention will appear during the course of the description of the vie-ws illustrating my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an isometric front View of my stair- -f way with the side box construction added.

Figure 2. is a cross sectional viewthrough the line 2 2 of Figure 1 with sections ofthe box construction bro-ken away.

Figure 3 is a broken plan View of my steps with the caps of the side boxes removed, showing means for holding parts assembled.

Figure 4 is a detailed cross sectional View of my step construction, showing a variation of the height of the riser.

Figure 5 is another detailed cross sectional View of my step construction showing another variation in the height of the riser and showingalso a variation in the width of the tread.

Figure 6 is an elevation view of a riser element of my stairway with anchoring means for joining the same to reinforcing slabs.

Figure 7 is a side View of my stairs showing the bannister locked in the same.

Figure 8 is an end View of the bannister locked in the stair.

Figure 9 isl a detailed view of oneof the memy Numeral 2 designates re- Stringer to another and support tread members 3 'together with depending riser elements 4.

In working out this invention, I had in mind a problem oi designing a portable step structure that can be assembled and disassembled by'one man'. To accomplish this, I have cast my parts in proportions of weight than can be handled by one man. For example, the combination'tread 3 and riser elements 4 can be easilyhandled by one man. To avoid a weakness because .of a light casting, I provided a reinforcing slab 2 ,designed to go under tread 3 and support the same. The reenforcing slab 2, however, serves vthe additional vfunction of an adjusting means for varying the effective height ofthe riser. For example, when one of the slabs is moved, iiush against the riser, portions of the stringer, the next succeeding tread 3 and riser,4 combination can be set up on the slab 2 to give an increase in eiectve riser height equal to the thickness of slab'. 2. Inl this respect, see Figure 4. Where this adjustment is made, it is necessary to block up under the next succeeding slab to raise it in proper position to support its overlying tread 3.

If a greater effective riser height is desired, a riser combination 3 and il may be set up o-n top of the lower4 tread 3. See Figure 5. This will give an effective increase in riser heights equal to the thickness of the slab plus the thickness of the tread. Where it is desirable to narrow the width, of the tread, the above described adjustment is used.

It is found in practice that the height of porches which my portable steps are designed to serve vary several inches. This variation does not produce any serious diiculty in the installation of my steps because of the fact that I may easily adjust my steps as described above, to fit nicelywith the porch or door sill it serves.

Referring again to Figure 1, numeral I0 designates generally the side box construction forming a part of my invention. These side boxes III serve admirably as seats for people to sit on. This style of stair with side boxes is in common use and very popular in New Orleans and many other cities. A description of the box structure of my invention will appear from my description of its assembly. Wherein, I say that I rst place the vertical sides of the boxes I I up against the riser I of my stair. Thenv I place the outer parallel vertical walls I2 in proper spaced relationshipr to receive the lower end pieces and upper end pieces I4. The next step is to place wood shutters I5 in place to make well formations to receive fluid concrete. The side members in an assembled position even though the poured concrete does not adhere to members themselves.

In the modification of my invention illustrated the box v by Figures 6 to 9, numeral 20 designates a stringis herein illustrated or described, and that such and assist to hold same in vertical position.

While it is believed that from the foregoing er. I use here a Stringer which has its tread supporting surfaces provided with wire loops2 I, under which prongs 22, are attached to tread supporting reenforced slabs 23, adapted to fit. In the assembly of the slab 23 the prongs 22 on the slabs 23 are rst Worked under the loops 2 I. The next step in the assembly is to mash the reenforced slab down onto the stringer 2U. In doing this, I flatten the loops 2i and prongs 22 ina binding relationship with one another. This bond isi-helped out by a smear of concrete grou'ting previously placed on the riser supporting surfaces of the Stringer 20. Even though the smear of concrete between the Stringer. 2U and the reenforcing slab 23 does not hold the metallic bond made by the loops 2 Iand the prongs 22 will still function to hold the slabs down in place and hold the Stringer 20 in correct space relationship against any jarring action. The stringers 20 are provided on their lovvermcst and uppermost tread supporting surfaces with recesses 24 designed to receive the posts 25 of a bannister structure. The lowermost and uppermost treadsZ are provided with notches 21 designed to nicely fit the posts description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to havev it understood that I do not limit myself to what surfaces and combination tread and riser elements adjustably mounted on the said supporting slabs whereby to permit adjustments in the effective height of riser element and the 'effective width in 'tread elements of the stair.

2. The device as claimed in clai the supporting slabs are adapted to be adjustably mounted on the said horizontal surfaces of the said stringers.

m l, wherein 3. In a stair construction the combination of." vertical side members provided with wire loops extending inwardly, end vertical` members providedl with Wire loopsextending inwardly, shutber to form walls with the said side membersand the said end members, capmembers provided withA wire loops extending inwardly, the loop on ters vertically placed between the said side mem- I the said side members, the loop on the said end members and the loop on the said cap members, being adapted to be anchored into concrete when poured into the said wells.

4.l In a stair construction comprised of v assembled stair members, fastening means for joining said members comprising a wire loop .extending from one member and a wireprong extending from another member, the prong being adapted to extend under and be clamped bythe loop'in the assembled position of the stair'members.

, 5. A stair construction including stringers, said stringers-being provided With sockets, a railing member provided with posts, said posts being adapted to t into the said sockets and tread members provided with notches in their ends, the said posts being adaptedy to nt into the said notches of the said tread members when the treads are assembled, to the rsaid stringers. e

ROBERT REYNOLDS. 

